Lawmakers seek public support for penalty sharing

Jeremy AlfordCapitol Correspondent

Published: Saturday, January 29, 2011 at 6:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, January 28, 2011 at 9:18 p.m.

BATON ROUGE — As Congress prepares to consider directing billions of dollars in oil-spill fines to coastal restoration, lawmakers and special interest groups are using public opinion to further their stances.

The idea came from several sources, including the National Oil Spill Commission and Navy Secretary and former Mississippi Gov. Ray Mabus.

BP could be forced to pay $5 billion to $21 billion in Clean Water Act fines if found grossly negligent in the Deepwater Horizon explosion and resulting months-long spill.

In the U.S. House, Rep. Steve Scalise, R-Metairie, filed legislation that mirrors the National Oil Spill Commission’s recommendation that 80 percent of all fines be directed to the coast.

So far, the bill hasn’t seen much action, aside from being assigned to two committees, House Natural Resources and House Transportation and Infrastructure.

Freshman Rep. Jeff Landry, who represents Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes, is the only member of Louisiana’s congressional delegation who serves on both committees.

Landry, R-New Iberia, said it’s a “common-sense” bill because it, in part, creates the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force, which would oversee the money and report annually to Congress.

Under the proposal, all eligible coastal states would have to submit a plan for approval to the task force.

There was a brief public outcry when the idea was initially pitched, but Landry said that input was taken into account when Scalise drafted the bill.

“This legislation would also ensure that local and state officials from the affected states have a say in where this funding is directed,” Landry said.

The task-force bill is sponsored by all members of Louisiana’s House delegation.

In the upper chamber, Sens. Mary Landrieu of New Orleans, a Democrat, and David Vitter of Metairie, a Republican, pushed for a similar penalty-sharing measure last year.

Vitter said the delegation suggested an 80 percent cut for Gulf Coast states last fall, long before the figure cropped up in two government reports.

While the senators haven’t yet officially sponsored any penalty-sharing legislation during this 112th Congress, Landrieu is cosponsoring another bill that would clarify what maritime laws can be applied to the BP blowout.

Political observers say the penalty-sharing concept could also end up as a provision in another unrelated bill making its way through the House.

Regardless of the form it takes, lawmakers and conservationists alike have long called for a sustainable source of revenue for the coast.

“The focus on the problems here have certainly been elevated at the highest levels of government,” said Steven Peyronnin, executive director of Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana.

The next hurdle is maintaining public interest and sympathy and hoping Congress gives the proposal a fair shake, he added.

“The challenge has always been the public awareness of the issue to drive those issues into action,” Peyronnin said. “What you’re seeing with the spill is one example of a clear focus on the environment and the environmental impact.”

A poll conducted by Louisiana State University last year shows overwhelming support for using the Clean Water Act fines for restoration and protection, said Kirby Goidel, director of LSU’s Public Policy Research Lab.

“Louisiana residents, especially, were worried about the impact on the environment. They’re worried about the current impact in terms of the oil spill,” Goidel said. “Seventy-five percent of them say they are very concerned about the current impact of the spill and they’re concerned about the future of the spill. Eighty-four percent say they are very worried about the future impact of the spill on the environment.”

<p>BATON ROUGE — As Congress prepares to consider directing billions of dollars in oil-spill fines to coastal restoration, lawmakers and special interest groups are using public opinion to further their stances.</p><p>The idea came from several sources, including the National Oil Spill Commission and Navy Secretary and former Mississippi Gov. Ray Mabus. </p><p>BP could be forced to pay $5 billion to $21 billion in Clean Water Act fines if found grossly negligent in the Deepwater Horizon explosion and resulting months-long spill.</p><p>In the U.S. House, Rep. Steve Scalise, R-Metairie, filed legislation that mirrors the National Oil Spill Commission's recommendation that 80 percent of all fines be directed to the coast. </p><p>So far, the bill hasn't seen much action, aside from being assigned to two committees, House Natural Resources and House Transportation and Infrastructure. </p><p>Freshman Rep. Jeff Landry, who represents Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes, is the only member of Louisiana's congressional delegation who serves on both committees.</p><p>Landry, R-New Iberia, said it's a “common-sense” bill because it, in part, creates the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force, which would oversee the money and report annually to Congress. </p><p>Under the proposal, all eligible coastal states would have to submit a plan for approval to the task force.</p><p>There was a brief public outcry when the idea was initially pitched, but Landry said that input was taken into account when Scalise drafted the bill.</p><p>“This legislation would also ensure that local and state officials from the affected states have a say in where this funding is directed,” Landry said.</p><p>The task-force bill is sponsored by all members of Louisiana's House delegation.</p><p>In the upper chamber, Sens. Mary Landrieu of New Orleans, a Democrat, and David Vitter of Metairie, a Republican, pushed for a similar penalty-sharing measure last year.</p><p>Vitter said the delegation suggested an 80 percent cut for Gulf Coast states last fall, long before the figure cropped up in two government reports.</p><p>While the senators haven't yet officially sponsored any penalty-sharing legislation during this 112th Congress, Landrieu is cosponsoring another bill that would clarify what maritime laws can be applied to the BP blowout.</p><p>Political observers say the penalty-sharing concept could also end up as a provision in another unrelated bill making its way through the House. </p><p>Regardless of the form it takes, lawmakers and conservationists alike have long called for a sustainable source of revenue for the coast. </p><p>“The focus on the problems here have certainly been elevated at the highest levels of government,” said Steven Peyronnin, executive director of Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana. </p><p>The next hurdle is maintaining public interest and sympathy and hoping Congress gives the proposal a fair shake, he added.</p><p>“The challenge has always been the public awareness of the issue to drive those issues into action,” Peyronnin said. “What you're seeing with the spill is one example of a clear focus on the environment and the environmental impact.” </p><p>A poll conducted by Louisiana State University last year shows overwhelming support for using the Clean Water Act fines for restoration and protection, said Kirby Goidel, director of LSU's Public Policy Research Lab.</p><p>“Louisiana residents, especially, were worried about the impact on the environment. They're worried about the current impact in terms of the oil spill,” Goidel said. “Seventy-five percent of them say they are very concerned about the current impact of the spill and they're concerned about the future of the spill. Eighty-four percent say they are very worried about the future impact of the spill on the environment.” </p><p>Jeremy Alford can be reached at jeremy@jeremyalford.com.</p>